UPDATE BOMB.
Sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes, I'm sure you guys know by now there's always a handful, I was just in a particular rush for this chapter 'cause I wanted to get it out for you guys. I'll double back and edit some in a bit.
I do not own Magi.
Enigma
Chapter Twenty Six:
The Life and the Death
Kali had gazed upon a scene like this perhaps a thousand times. She'd forgotten when she'd stopped keeping count.
Fire. She could say it time and time again but it would never change, it seemed. It was always fire. Always. There was a sliver of fondness for the element, the warmth she felt when she had Raum at her side, the crackle of it within a pit—but here, wild and raging and untamed, she could only muse it seemed rather like herself.
Camio's presence flooded her mind, warm and intense and calming all at once. "We are here."
Buildings tumbled down on either side of her, massive structures collapsing as shattering the city beneath them. Several dark djinns smashed their way through the city, uncaring for anything as they destroyed, destroyed, destroyed. Kali's lips curled back into a snarl, flames licking at her wrists and weaving around her body as she gripped Raum so tight, the blade shook with the force. She could see the golden light of borgs below, shattering under the onslaught as people's cries filled the air.
It struck her for a moment, how truly familiar this sight of carnage and destruction seemed to be, and Kali felt a ringing of silence in her mind.
"We need to get them out of the city!" Aladdin exclaimed, Alibaba flying to his side where he'd just separated several strands from Scheherazade, who'd appeared to help protect some of the people in the city.
"If only there were some way to wrap them all up and bring them away!"
Kali's hand shot to her dagger, eyes narrowing sharply and she felt Seere stir in the back of her mind. But before anything could be done, furious tunnels of wind ensnared the dark djinns attacking the city. It pulled them upwards into a furious vortex up above them and Kali's eyes flickered up in surprise as the Rukh fluttered past her. "Paimon!"
There was the glint of a scythe and the sharp snap of water through the air and Kali stiffened, Kouen's call ringing loud in her ears.
Flames ignited in the sky amidst the vortex of flames and the dark djinns disappeared in a shatter of black Rukh. Kali's eyes turned further upwards, her sword hanging at her side as a quiet flicker of respect flashed through her eyes and a small noise left the back of her throat. As expected.
"There's no way you could take on the entire Kou Empire!"
No. Kali supposed with a wry grin, her mind quieting. I suppose not.
The royal siblings of the Kou Empire stood proud before them, hovering in the sky. Kouen at their center, with Kouha, Koumei, Kougyoku and a woman Kali didn't recognize flanking either of his sides. The sight of them sent a stab of familiarity through her, along with flickers of memories and peaches and soft breaths mingling with falling blossoms.
Smoke filled her lungs now and cries rang loud and fierce from below, but Kali realized in dull amusement that no, it wasn't familiar to all the other worlds because this time, it truly was different.
We'll make it different.
"Miss Hakuei!" Aladdin let out a cry of happiness, drifting towards the woman with the wind djinn she didn't recognize. Kali frowned, brows furrowing at the familiarity of the name and then it suddenly struck her, eyes snapping upwards to the woman who flew down to meet Aladdin.
Hakuryuu's older sister.
Memories Kali tried to shove back far into her mind to keep from bleeding into this world flashed through, blood and a curling sneer and a looming fear for a boy who was taking steps to become a man. Kali shook her head sharply. Different. This will be different. I need to focus on the now.
"Aladdin!" Hakuei moved to greet the magi and beside her Koumei frowned, looking surprised as he rubbed the back of his head.
"You know this boy?"
"Yes, he's the one who saved my life." Hakuei praised, eyes warm and earnest and Aladdin beamed.
Koumei's eyes drifted and he froze, jaw dropping open in shock as the familiar sight of ruby scales and searing eyes met his gaze quietly. "K-Kali?"
"Hey," Kali flashed him and wry grin and Hakuei looked to her sharply in surprise. "Good to see you again, Koumei."
"But how—you... We've been—" Koumei stopped, blinking once, and then slowly turning his gaze over to where Kouen stood beside him, gripping his sword and looking unaffected by the whole ordeal. "I guess you two have already sorted things out."
"We still have things to discuss."
"Yes."
The answers rang out at the same time and Kouen gave her a long look, eyes narrowing slightly but there was a flash of something through them that whispered fondness, and Kali tried to ignore it. Koumei seemed to take this all in stride and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose and turning his eyes skywards. "My, what a reunion we have here."
"Completely romantic," Kali nodded. "Swept me off my feet in the middle of war for the fight of our lives—how could I have ever run away?"
Heat flared out at her and Kali merely hovered, unaffected as his blue flames licked around her ankles and mingled with her bright crimson. Hakuei watched the encounter before her curiously before turning to Kali. "I have heard much from you from my brothers... It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
Kali met her bright gaze, hardened and glinting with determination for what she knew was to come. Kali inclined her head and allowed a wisp of a smirk to curl at her lips, wolfish. "He only ever speaks the best of you."
There was a flicker of sadness across Hakuei's face and Kali froze. But suddenly slender, scaled arms were wrapping around her neck and Kali paused as a familiar scent of flowers washed over her. "Kali! Alibaba dear, it's good to see you again!"
"Alibaba dear?" Kouha squawked. "This is an enemy general, you know!"
"Nonsense, Alibaba is a great friend of mine," Kougyoku protested, and Kouen's eyes flickered at her words. "He's helped me a great deal, and if it weren't for him and the rest, I wouldn't have met Kali again back in—"
"It's good to see you again too, Kougyoku," Kali said earnestly, and her eyes flickered to each of the Ren siblings, skimming over Kouen because she figured she'd said enough to the damn man. "All of you."
"Never mind that," Alibaba began grimly, eyes narrowing as his gaze turned skywards. "Right now, our enemy is that ridiculously huge black ball, and the guy sitting right on top of it."
"The truth that lies on the other side, and all future history..." Kouen's eyes narrowed, his face darkening. "I shall acquire them both."
"See if you can last first," Kali bit back, and Kouen's gaze flickered to hers, languid and intense. Your equip is a snake but you look like a tiger.
What looked to be hundreds—perhaps even thousands of black figures began to descend upon them. Kali's lips curled back into a snarl and her crimson flames lashed out, talons curling tightly around her sword as Raum roared in the back of her head.
Then let's begin.
Without another word they all surged forward. Kougyoku and Kouha paired off together, slashing through and ripping several apart within seconds. Alibaba's flames licked at her side and Kali trained her gaze on a huge swarm that loomed above her, thick black arms raising to smash her straight into the ground.
Kali tucked her head in close to her chest and propelled herself upwards with a furious snarl, flames flaring out, crimson and hot and curling tight around her body as a bird took form amidst the flames and sailed through them with a screech. Burning bits of monstrous flesh fell around her and she whirled around, slashing and hacking as bodies left and right began to press in tighter and reach for her with wide palms and unforgiving yellow eyes.
"We must keep our head," Camio warned and Kali kept her gaze focused, felt her pulse throbbing in her veins. "You can do this, my king. We can do this. We are not who we once were."
There were flashes of sharp blue curling around her and Kali stiffened, constellations soaring across the sky and opening up around her. "Kali!"
A wide grin split her lips and she let her flames surge outwards like wings, flames searing across the constellations and engulfing them whole. "So that's what your equip looks like, eh?"
Koumei grimaced, flicking his fingers this way and that and collecting more djinns before depositing them in the way of her wrath. "My Dantalion isn't well suited for battle."
"Make it work." Heat flared across her back and Kouen was there beside her, swinging his sword in one massive arch and a serpent of flames streaked out around them, circling them wide and engulfing another mass of dark djinns whole. "I will speak with that magi."
"Eh~ How scary," Kali teased, head tipping back and ruby red locks mingled with a searing amber. Kouen spared her a glance over his bare shoulder. "We haven't even gotten started you know."
Kouen's lips merely curled into terrifyingly powerful smirk. "Oh?"
Koumei grimaced, merely raising his hand as a black djinn attempted to smash him from the sky and he made it reappear elsewhere and smash into another. The two of them in battle was a sight I never thought I'd see.
"This isn't getting us anywhere." Hakuei called. "We have to cut it off at the source..."
Kali's eyes snapped to the Medium looming above them. Her eyes narrowed and her body flickered, reappearing beside Aladdin and Kouha. Maybe...
"That's right!" Alibaba shot past them, heat flaring out behind as he charged upwards.
Hakuei's gaze hardened and she raised her spear, swinging it upwards. "Clear open a path—Paimon!"
Black djinns were pushed ruthlessly aside as the wind surged outwards. Alibaba surged through the opening, bringing his sword behind him in a wide arch and letting out a loud cry as he brought his blade down. The golden light of a thick borg collided with the force of his blow, energy crackling outwards and snapping around him as Alibaba grunted, pushing forward. "What's this guy's deal? I can't cut through... With Amon's sword!"
That disgusting woman. Kali felt her pulse quicken at the thought, eyes narrowing. "She must be watching all this behind the scenes, sneering over their success."
Even better then. Kali's face looked completely feral and she surged upwards, disappearing and reappearing behind several black djinns as she set her palms against them. Within seconds she disappeared alongside several of them, reappearing with empty hands and she quickly surged toward the others, disappearing along with them and depositing them in another world, away from the one she loved. When we destroy it all and smash her face in.
"These guys just keep getting spit out endlessly!" Kouha exclaimed. "What are we supposed to do, Aladdin?"
"I don't think that's just what it is," Aladdin panted, swinging his flute out towards the incoming swarm. "He's a living creature. Putting up the borg and creating djinns from the Rukh are all magic spells. And every time he casts one, he loses a little bit more magoi... In other words, if we keep assaulting the dark djinn, until the Medium exhausts its supply of magoi, the borg will vanish!"
Sounds like a plan. Kali flexed her talons and swung Raum in a wide arch, flames roaring outwards and engulfing several more.
"I see!" Kouha slashed through two more dark djinns and snapped his attention back to Aladdin. "But how many more of those dark djinns would we need to destroy until then?"
"Well," Aladdin's brows furrowed and Kali surged upwards, eyes narrowed as she slashed through. "Maybe about... ten thousand or so?"
Kali faltered in her ascent, eyes bulging out of her head almost comically as she snapped her gaze around to Aladdin. "What?"
"Ten thousand?" Kouha exclaimed.
"Look, you, don't be ridiculous!" Kougyoku protested, looking at Aladdin in horrified disbelief.
"Well, that's about how intimidating his power seems to me," Aladdin admitted honestly. "The strength of his borg tells me the same thing. I mean, it's way stronger than my own borg. He's got that much magoi in reserve."
"W-We don't stand a chance," Kouha staggered. "No way is our magoi going to last that long!"
How ridiculously unfair. Kali whirled around, palms and fingertips touching searing black Rukh beneath her and she watched it disappear with a fierce flash of satisfaction. "Guess we have no choice."
Heat sailed past her and a passive palm came crashing down above her. The tip of a blade stabbed through and Kali blinked as the djinn burst into flames above her and Kouen carelessly tossed the burning body aside, meeting her gaze with a dark glare. "Focus. I don't intend to have you die on me."
"Nice to know you've got my back," Kali threw him a wry smile and she gripped Raum's leather hilt, spinning around and arching over a line of djinns and shooting straight through them.
Her eyes flickered back toward everyone else. Her pulse rang loud in her ears, Raum's energy thrumming through her blood and searing through her body, urging her forward. More. More. She could feel Camio's presence in the back of her mind and felt her magoi thrumming through her body, felt it slipping through her fingers and depleting with every strike. Around her everyone's shoulders heaved, tense and beginning to wear down. We have to keep going.
Kouen shot past her in a flash of heat. Kali watched, eyes widening as without any hesitation, he blasted his way through djinn after djinn, his sword sliding through and cutting them in half. Blue flames licked out wildly across the sky as he shot like meteor. A massive dark djinn appeared behind him, thick clumps of its flesh enveloping him whole and Kali's gaze sharpened and her grip tightened as Hakuei's eyes went wide. "Lord Kouen!"
Kali feared for nothing, for in seconds she could feel the Rukh flutter past her, wild and fierce and promising. A massive explosion shook the sky, thick plumes of smoke curling tightly around all of them as a flurry of black Rukh shot back to the source of its origin and Kouen stood, amidst the carnage of it all, looming, raging—powerful.
It's nice. Kali thought a little breathlessly, swinging her sword in a wide arch and taking down several more djinns. To be fighting with him and not against him for once.
"I suppose he always will be such a frightening man."
"Impressive as always!" Kougyoku exclaimed, eyes shining with adoration.
"I can't believe he drove four... no six of them back into the Rukh with one blow," Aladdin said.
"He does have much to be fighting for, it seems," Koumei commented, eyes drifting to Aladdin and then pausing as his gaze swiveled to where Kouen's eyes were tracking Kali's fierce movements across the sky, his searing gaze watching her slash and hack through several more. And someone he wants to be looking only at him.
"His djinn equip is all melted down now, though," Alibaba protested. "He's run out of magoi!"
Kali's eyes snapped to Kouen at the statement, but she blinked, recognizing the glow of the armor at his shoulder. "No, that's just him switching his djinn equip." Koumei answered.
A bright light enveloped Kouen's body, an arching ring ling in flames appearing behind him as his body dwarfed into that of a younger child. A clawed paw curled outwards, wide and glowing as Kouen narrowed his eyes. "Pierce the earth, Agares."
A thick beam of violet light shot outwards from Kouen's palm. Kali watched, curiosity flickering across her face as a dragon made of flames curled thickly around her body, refusing to allow any other dark djinns closer. The earth trembled, groaning as a pillar began to rise upwards from the surface. Kali's face blanched, a look of disbelief coloring her face as her grip on her sword slackened. "H-Hey, isn't a power like that kind of insane?"
"You are one to talk."
The massive pillar continued to rise, climbing higher and higher into the sky until it finally seemed to end. A fierce explosion of heat scorched the entire earth, magma flowing freely from the very core of the earth and flooding across the land. Fires ignited along its path and thick plumes of smoke curled around the entrance, heat scorching fiercely and wildly as the pressure of it all forced lightning to crackle around the thickening storm.
"Why would he do something so insane?" Alibaba exclaimed.
Clever bastard. Kali watched the Rukh from the heat of the magma and fire surging upwards curl thickly around Kouen. It entered his sword, filling it up and surging it with new energy and magoi. I didn't know Agares could do that.
"He's using it to absorb all the magoi into that flame vessel," Aladdin said. "Like an infinite supply of power!"
"He can't be seriously thinking to take them all on by himself?" Alibaba questioned, eyes wide with disbelief. Just who is this man?
What a terrifying person. Kali's thoughts on Kouen's strength had never wavered, but the sight of him shooting past hundreds of djinns, leaving behind nothing but ashes and the waves of heat rolling off from his explosions—so this is what you're like out here. A hand went to her stomach, the ache of a scar from another world and the weight of similar ones etched along her back. Golden eyes flashed in her mind and Kali grit her teeth.
"He's going back and forth to replenish it after every go," Hakuei said in disbelief.
"That's horrible!" Aladdin's eyes widened in realization. "It's like letting his body die over and over again, it must be in agony! We have to stop him—"
"Most likely, he won't listen to you." Koumei rose upwards, watching his brother sail ruthlessly through the skies. "He doesn't care if he gets hurt himself. That's the kind of man he is... my brother, the king."
Kali's fist clenched tighter.
"Why do you hesitate?"
Because even this... Kali's eyes narrowed. Will it be enough?
"For everyone's sake... If it means the world will be protected, he doesn't care if he gets hurt..." Alibaba's eyes turned downwards, flames licking behind him. "That's the kind of man he is..."
"No, that's not what I meant at all." Koumei blinked and Alibaba turned to him in surprise, Kali patting Alibaba's shoulder comfortingly. "That utterly excited look on my brother's face... I haven't seen it since..."
Koumei's eyes trailed meaningfully toward Kali and she swiftly jerked her head away, training her eyes hard on the swarm of djinns she sent a bird of flames after.
"Every last one of you!" Kouen's voice rang out loud against the explosions and fighting and a look of fury etched itself vividly across his face. "You, and you—you're in my way!"
Flames shot outwards, fast and ruthless and terrifying. "Die if you dare to stand in my way! Can any of you offer me any kind of truth? Worthless. If I get rid of all of you, I can finally get my hands on what I've wanted all along! Get out of here and let me talk to that magi!"
A thick serpent made of flames arched over Kouen's back and his fist clenched the air, eyes burning and face absolutely threatening to incinerate anything in his path. "Get out of my way."
Aladdin flinched, face growing deathly pale and a content smile touched Kali's lips as she patted his shoulder reassuringly. "You're a big help, Aladdin."
Kouha nodded almost solemnly. "Of course, my brother En does have our nation's interests in mind, but if you separate his public and private lives, he's a man who thirsts for knowledge, so right now the only thing on his mind is talking to Aladdin!"
"That's so scary!" Aladdin clutched his flute closer, shoulders hunching as though to make himself disappear. "This is what Kali-nee had to deal with all this time?"
"No, no, no," Kali wildly waved her hand and the notion aside. "He could care less about me right now. He's more focused on getting all that knowledge—I'm second compared to unlocking the truths of the universe."
Aladdin looked horrified by the thought as explosions rocked the air. "B-But—"
"She's wrong," Koumei grimaced, rubbing the back of his head with a sigh. "Do you know how much of a pain it was to have to search countless countries for you? He never gave up you know. I doubt he'd just let you slip through his fingers..."
Koumei paused, regarding Kali's face, which looked as though she were straining to keep on her coy smile and her shaky grip on Aladdin's shoulder. "Well, I guess you already know that though."
"You missed it," Kouha shook his head. "En came right in and swept Li up in his arms and—"
"War!" Kali shouted, disappearing and reappearing above several djinns and driving her sword down into all of them. "War is going on right now!"
"Damn," Kouen snarled, several djinns crowding around him. "This is a pain in the ass!"
So he can make faces like that too. Kali dodged a swipe from another djinn and smacked its back, watching it disappear.
"Hey, you little brat from Balbadd!" Kouen's finger jutted out toward Alibaba, who flinched, looking up sharply in surprise and Kouen's entire face darkened, the flames from his serpent casting a dark shadow across his features. "Get over here."
"E-Eh?" Alibaba let out a sharp cry as Kouen shot forward, snatching one of the lengths of his hair and tugging him along behind him as they flew toward Kouen's manmade volcano. "EH?"
"The way things are going, I'm unable to do what I want with all these enemies, and so, since you also possess a fire djinn, Lord Alibaba Saluja, I'd like you to please lend me a hand," Hakuei moved to stand beside them. "That is what Lord Kouen has just said, at least."
"T-That's amazing," Aladdin began shakily. "All I heard was 'Get over here!'"
"Lend him a hand?" Kouha echoed. "He'd get more done with Li..." Kouha flinched at the suddenly annoyed look that had flared to life on Kali's face. "L-Li?"
"Bastard doesn't think I can handle it," Kali's fists clenched and a tight lipped grin curled darkly over her face. "He'd rather me stand back here while he takes care of business—that high bred ass."
"I-I'm sure it's just his way of showing—"
"No," Koumei squinted, holding a hand over his eyes as he idly pointed toward the flaming mass several lengths away from them. "Look."
Kali turned grudgingly, freezing in place when crimson eyes held her locked where she stood, Kouen merely fixing her with is intense gaze as she watched his lips move.
"Come."
Kali let out an aggravated sigh, but a suddenly wicked smile split her lips and she disappeared. Kouha regarded the empty space, moving to stand beside Koumei and shrugging. "I guess that's better compared to what he did to him."
"If you think about it," Koumei rubbed his chin. "Our brother must be extremely pleased right now."
"How so?"
"She came to him when he called."
"I can explain this one!" Kougyoku offered excitedly, eyes shining as her cheeks flushed slightly. "Fight beside me, my love—that's what he meant!"
"All I heard was 'Come.'" Aladdin replied shakily.
Kali reappeared, heat fanning wildly around them, curling thick and tightly around all three. She regarded Alibaba pressed dangerously to the flowing lava beneath Kouen's foot, his sword taking in the rapid flow of magoi around them and she felt Raum humming to life in her grip. Kouen regarded her with a mere look, arms at his side, rippling and powerful and his sword clutched loosely in his grip.
Kali's lips curled up into a crooked grin. "You could have said 'please.'"
Kouen's eyes flickered and he reached down, gaze never leaving Kali's as he hauled Alibaba up, the younger male spluttering and blinking in disbelief. Kali threw Alibaba a soft look. "You could also try a little harder not to kill my dear friend."
He laid no hand on her, yet Kali felt as though heated hands were ghosting along her shoulder and around her neck as Kouen merely smirked. Kali could hear his voice swimming in her head even though his lips never parted.
But you still came when I called.
She plunged Raum deep into the lava flowing freely beneath them. She felt the magoi surge fiercely into her blade and she drew it back up, fangs glinting from her mouth as her lips pulled into a feral smile. "For now."
Golden lights flashed bright across the sky. Three swords rose upwards in unison, blades of different lengths and design gleaming brightly as three pentagrams came to life behind them. Flame curled over Kouen's shoulders and wove around Alibaba's arms. Crimson licked at Kali's heels and flared through her hair, eyes focused intently on the Medium towering above them.
"Three at once..."
Doesn't hurt to try? Kali's lips curled upwards and her lips parted. "Spirit of passion and destruction—"
"Spirit of fear and meditation—"
"Spirit of decorum and austerity, you who gather for kings, bring forth the great hellfire that judges the earth—"
"Extreme Magic, Astor Inqerade."
Piercing blue flames shot outwards from Kouen's pentagram, a blue serpent made entirely of flames, stark blue and burning hot enough to glare white curved around the Medium, incinerating the dark djinns that had begun to spring from the surface. Its massive jaws opened wide, as though to swallow the Medium whole.
"Extreme Magic, Tanin Junah!"
Crimson, burning hotly and searing along her arms enveloped Kali's body as a massive figure began to claw its way from her pentagram and surge forward. Massive ruby red wings flickered with the force of the flames curling thick as a dragon curved outwards, it's jaws parting as a fierce roar shook the air and it surged with a beat of flame enveloped wings, claws reaching outwards and digging fiercely into the Medium, clashing wildly against the borg.
"Extreme Magic," Alibaba raised his sword high. "Let's go, Amon!"
Bright golden flames enveloped and ebony flamed figure. The towering mass of fire surged outwards, sword raised as Alibaba swung his arms downward fiercely and the blade collided with a resounding crash against the Medium. "Damn it, not even Extreme Magic is working?"
"Astaroth!" Kouen raised his sword and the serpent shot outwards, thick blue flames wrapping tightly around the fire figure's sword. Heat scorched the air around them and Kali grinned, eyes shining as she gripped Raum tightly with both hands.
"Come on, Raum!"
A roar echoed her cry and the dragon surged forward, melding with Amon's figure. Thick crimson wings protruded from its back and crimson armor, flickering wildly and hotly around it sheathed its body. Alibaba raised his arms, letting out a fierce cry as he swung downwards.
The figure followed suit, sword slamming hard into the Medium. A sharp crack pierced the air as golden fault lines appeared along the borg and Kali's heart surged. Alibaba grunted against the onslaught, pressing down harder and Kouen smirked. "What's wrong? How pathetic are you? Is that all you've got?"
Kali's eyes flashed at the taunt and she pressed her palm flat against Alibaba's heated back, Raum hanging tight in one hand as she pressed deeper, feeling magoi curl thickly and tightly around. "Shut up, you don't have to tell me!"
Alibaba as he raised his arms upwards for one more strike. "Extreme Magic... Amol Albador Saika!"
The massive sword swung downwards in one final arch and Kali felt a massive energy surge outwards from the Medium. Her entire body flickered, Kali's eyes widening at the surge of magoi that filtered the air before a fierce explosion rocked the entire sky.
Her eyes quickly snapped upwards, searching through the smoke and the falling djinns for any sign of the Medium left. Kouen's hand gripped her shoulder, steadying her when she stumbled slightly and her equip flickered. "Go back, you've used up too much power."
"I'm not even scratching the surface," Kali's eyes burned fiercely and she set a clawed hand over his. "This is nothing."
She didn't see Kouen's eyes darken, pride and fierce affection overshadowed by a hard, lingering look. "I don't intend to have you die on me."
Kali spared him a brief glance, eyes flashing with warmth and annoyance. "I don't intend to die."
"My king!"
"N-No way..." Alibaba staggered a step back, eyes wide with disbelief. "How is this possible?"
Kouen's grip on her shoulder tightened and he scowled, eyes narrowing darkly. "We can't even pulverize its borg completely with Extreme Magic?"
"I was naïve," Kali breathed, reaching a hand up and clutching her head as she willed herself to steady. Stay. She gripped her flaming hair tighter. Stay. Stay. Stay. "Of course, even with that amazing attack..."
Her eyes peered through her clawed fingers and she smiled bitterly, gazing at the flickering image of the Medium still standing proudly before them, cracked and flaming and damaged, but present—still present.
We couldn't destroy it.
"My brother and king," Koumei's hands glowed brightly, face hardened and lined in concentration. "How much longer must I divert the damage to the city elsewhere?"
"Until this battle is over." Kouen answered, raising his sword. "Even if the borg can't be breached, the dark djinns that come crawling out of it are incinerated the moment they're born. Sooner or later, even the Medium will exhaust its magoi supply."
His eyes turned to Kali at his side as a soft glow enveloped her body. Raum's equip left her and her gray eyes remained focused on the Medium as the dagger at her side began to glow. Kouen's eyes narrowed and he snapped his gaze to Alibaba. "What are you standing there for? Go replenish your magoi in the lava flow while you can!"
"R-Right!"
"Spirit of freedom and happiness," small tempests curved at Kali's feet, winding up her body and enveloping her fully as Kouen and Alibaba shot off toward the lava flow. "Dwell within my body, grant me the power of kings."
A fierce storm raged wildly around them. Hakuei raised her arm against the onslaught, wind curling softly around her as her gaze turned in surprise toward Kali. Aladdin whirled around, worry coloring his features and a sharp snap seemed to crack against the flurry of wind.
"Seere."
Silver lines inked up along half of Kali's face, curling around her eye in an intricate pattern. Loose silks and golden clasps adorned her figure as gray locks whipped wildly around her, stormy eyes staring down the massive figure in front of her.
"With caution, my king."
She felt Seere hum beneath her and raised her dagger upwards. Its entire form glowed softly, taking shape of a massive bow as Kali pulled the golden string back, a thick torrent of wind filling the empty gap of where an arrow would have notched and Kali narrowed her eyes.
Massive black tendrils shot outwards from the cracking Medium, sailing far over her head and shooting fast toward Kouen and Alibaba. Kali raised her sword as the earth trembled, the hands plunging deep into the lava and taking from it everything. She could feel the Rukh batter against her body, listened as screeches and fierce whispers slammed into her ears and she narrowed her eyes.
"Hab Yunfah!"
A squeal seemed to split the air and a thick mane appeared, torrents of wind battering at the massive body as a stallion arched from where Kali let the arrow fly. It rose upwards, tempests crackling along its form as it raised its hooves and smashed into the Medium. Sharp fissures appeared along the borg and Kali took a knee in the air, notching another bow and letting loose another arrow as wind pierced through and slammed hard into the tendrils that had protruded from its opening. They collapsed to the floor, crashing hard into the earth and knocking down trees.
Alibaba's eyes widened while Kouen's narrowed. "Those tendrils took the fire away!"
I can't let it take anything else. Kali thought fiercely, notching another arrow. Nothing else!
Two tendrils raised upwards into the sky and she froze, eyes growing wide as the remaining dark djinns instantly flew toward the massive figures. They slipped into its form, black Rukh dispersing and making it whole. Kali felt her entire body tremble, eyes wide with disbelief as her fingers shook along the golden bow. Again.
Another tendril shot outwards, ensnaring the stallion made of wind and the entire form disappeared beneath its grasp. Kali felt the Rukh from the wind disappear and she lurched, hand gripping her chest. A tendril swung outwards and a hand fisted itself into the silk curling around her shoulder, yanking her backwards and Kouen held her close to him. "Snap out of it! What are you doing?"
"Again," Kali mumbled weakly, and Kouen's eyes snapped to her.
"It's absorbing the dark djinns?"
It's all happening again.
The hulking form before her began to expand, stretching outwards quickly and beginning to take form. Kali felt her shoulders slump, lips trembling and hands rattling fiercely as she gripped her bow and massive hands began to take shape. A body took form before them, Astaroth's flames holding tightly to it as it fell from the sky and slammed hard into the earth below them. A cloud of dust unfurled from the earth, dispersing as it gave way to a cowering form below them, the massive, pale body struggling to raise itself upwards.
Kouen's grip on her tightened. "What the hell is that scrawny, doll-like thing?"
The Medium raised a hand and pressed it into Astaroth's flames. A sharp hiss filled the air as it went out and Kouen stiffened. "His hands—he's extinguishing Astaroth's flames."
"Taking the Rukh from the flames... No way!" Aladdin's eyes widened in horror. "It can't be..."
A hand slammed into the earth, a shadow seeping into the ground as it soared over the land. A vast expanse of trees and grass suddenly turned gray before they crumpled down into nothing. Kali reached a shaky hand upwards, a firm hand instantly enclosing around hers as Kouen held her tight, eyes watching her form less she flicker out of view again. Cam.
"What's wrong?" Hakuei questioned.
"We've got to drive him far from the city, right away!" Aladdin started. "Please! Whatever his palms touch... whether it's flames or anything at all, trees, birds, people—their Rukh will be taken away and they'll all die!"
"What did you say?" Kouha's eyes snapped upwards. "Aren't you talking about that thing above us in the clouds?"
The Medium rose upwards and let out a furious screech into the sky. Thousands of tendrils surged upwards, reaching for the mass above the clouds and Alibaba shot forward. "I won't let you!"
"My king!"
Thousands of images swirled rapidly in Kali's minds and she panted, smiles and eyes and hands and blood pouring through her in rapid succession. The smell of fire and burning flesh, sick grins and twisted eyes, looming figures and curling shadows. Panic seized her heart and she trembled, eyes watching desperately as the tendrils wove thickly around Alibaba. He flew between them, dodging their grasp when one slammed into his side, sending him flying across the air.
Again. Kali's mind chanted. Again. Again. Again. Again.
"Koumei!" Kouen snapped, tugging Kali back and into Koumei's waiting grasp. His intense gaze met his brother's and Koumei nodded stiffly as Kouen surged toward the Medium, swinging his blade against it.
Tendrils shot outwards as though to swat him from the sky and Kouen dodged its grasp, weaving swiftly between them until a hand grasped onto him tightly. Kouen snarled, breaking free from its grip as he plummeted toward the earth.
"Brother!" Kougyoku cried and Kali stiffened.
Her hands went up to her hair, gripping it roughly as she breathed, Koumei speaking in her ear but his words flying past her. It's already starting. They always get the upper hand. They always manage to make it happen, over and over and over again and I'm—
USELESS.
Kali's equip shattered and she slumped in Koumei's grip, his eyes flashing to her in alarm as Kouen struggled to stand on the ground, blood dripping from fierce wounds and his equip practically stripped from him entirely.
It'll happen all over again. Despair filled Kali's mind and she fell to her knees, Koumei staggering in alarm. It'll repeat just like all the rest and—
A forced quiet suddenly filled her mind. Kali froze. Koumei's words fell on deaf ears, the furious screech of the Medium in front of her not even making it through. She saw Aladdin's lips move and Kougyoku's face contort into one of fury and Hakuei called out but she couldn't hear a single thing. Sharp daggers of water pierced through the Medium's body and it staggered to the floor, Extreme Magic activating before her eyes. Aladdin was on the ground, bodies beginning to rise from the sand as they fired off flames toward the Medium. The monster staggered, tendrils shooting outwards and stealing the Rukh from the sand and letting it crumple to the ground. Koumei shifted around her, raising his hand and teleporting the others away so they could fight properly.
I keep trying to push it away. Kali thought brokenly, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes. I keep shoving them into the back of my mind but I can't ignore it. I can't not remember it all. I feel so much fear and so much pain and it hurts and I'm so frustrated because I've gathered so much power but I can't do anything with it.
Kali gripped her head in her hands. I don't know what to do, Cam. They all need me right now—this is the moment I've been waiting for and I don't know what I should do. I can't predict what will happen. I can't base it off any of the other worlds—
A single, calming presence forced its way into her mind. He took over every thought, every image and held it fast in his grip, winding it tighter and tighter together in her mind and then presenting it before her as a single voice rang out, loud and clear. There was no pity, no worry for these people or love for the people she loved, merely a voice focused solely on her, a voice that existed solely for her to hear.
"What would you like to do, my king?"
Kali felt her heart slow and sound begin to seep through her ears once more. Explosions rocketed left and right and Kali quietly gripped Koumei's hand, allowing herself to pull away from his grip as she disappeared and reappeared on the ground, several lengths from Kouen and Alibaba.
Gray eyes hardened, flashing fiercely and Kali felt the Rukh beat wildly around her, felt the voices scream in unison as Kali snarled to fiercely, voice tearing thick and wild from her lips.
"I want to save this world!"
She saw a flash of a smile in her mind and Camio's soft eyes.
"Then let us save it."
"Spirit of life and death—"
Kouen's eyes snapped toward her figure, Phenex's wings shrouding him a gentle glow as the earth beneath them rumbled. Alibaba staggered with the force, eyes snapping upwards. "K-Kali?"
"I call upon you and your household," Kali breathed, feeling his voice in unison with her own. "Dwell within my body, grant me the power of kings—"
A vicious flash of white light enveloped her form and Kali's eyes shone.
"Camio!"
The earth trembled, shuddering beneath their feet. Alibaba's eyes trained hard on the bright light illuminating Kali's body. The ground seemed to stir, a gentle waft of the earth and rain and grass curling tight around them. Vines slipped from cracks in the earth, curling gently around Alibaba and healing his wounds. His eyes widened and Kouen moved to stand beside him, his sword in his hand from where he'd been prepared to do the same thing himself.
A soft crown of leaves and vines wove themselves together through her hair, glints of gold intertwining along with it. Her hair flowed loosely down her back, inky black tendrils woven through with flowers. Ink marking curled along her chest, over the top of her heart and traced upwards and curved along her right eye. Thick, mossy vines curled lovingly around her arms, wove themselves around her body and hardened the outer edges with thorns. Soft silk cloth dangled freely from her hips, her chest wrapped up in sheer silks and a thick, grass green sash that slipped over her arms and draped over her elbows.
Her bare feet sunk slightly into the ground. Beneath her feet grass began to sprout from the earth, curling around her and shifting as she began to walk forward. The earth trembled with every step, vines and trees groaning as they rose from their positions in the ground and began to curve and weave at her call.
Kali's eyes fluttered open, sharp gray eyes, swirling deep, mossy green peered up at the hulking figure above them in silence.
Hands shot outwards toward her. Their fingers splayed open and palms slammed down into the ground around her, turning the earth gray and lifeless as they stole the Rukh from the life around her. Kali tilted her head slightly, thin golden chains dangling from her ear where a soft bell chimed at the end.
Thick vines shot out from the earth, winding tightly around the arms that had shot outwards. Kali narrowed her eyes and instantly they clenched, Rukh flapping wildly around them as the Medium let out a screech.
"How can she be touching it?" Alibaba questioned, eyes wide with surprise. "It should be stealing—"
"The djinn," Kouen said flatly. Alibaba turned to him in surprise and his eyes merely narrowed. "It's done this before."
"Kali-nee's equip in this form..." Aladdin's eyes widened. "Life magoi... She's stealing the magoi from the Medium as it steals from her."
"If it's an endurance match he wants," Kali began quietly, voice dripping with venom as her eyes stared fiercely up at the hulking monster above her, screeching and groaning in protest as it gripped at her vines, turning some to ash while others swung out and wrapped thickly around its body, glowing white as it stole the magoi from its form. "He'll get it."
Kali raised her arm upwards and a flurry of roots tore up from the earth, winding thickly and weaving around each other as she clenched her fist. They surged from the earth, glowing white as the ground behind the roots turned gray. Kali's eyes shone fiercely. "It's not the only thing here that can selfishly steal from others."
A dark, feral grin touched her lips and the Medium shrieked, roots piercing it's body and curling around it as she brought her arm back, forcibly tugging its body along with her. Kali let out a roar, Camio's voice echoing loudly in her mind and they surged forward, throwing the massive figure several lengths away.
"I learned to equip with Camio first."
Alibaba's eyes widened and Kali took several steps forward, hair whipping behind her and revealing the ink black tattoo of a dragon along her back, scarred with its jaws open wide, as though to swallow anything whole.
"We got along the best, after all."
"The metal vessel she knows the best..." Alibaba mumbled, and Kouen turned to him. "This is Camio's equip."
The Medium raised its arms, wide palms laid flat as they surged toward her with a furious screech. Kali's eyes sharpened and she dug her feet into the ground, bringing both her hands up as roots tore from the earth and surged upwards with the force of her pull. She let out a loud cry, roots colliding fiercely into the Medium's palms and white light flared against black, the fierce tug of the Medium's power trying to steal the Rukh from her as she attempted to steal the Rukh from it instead.
Kali's feet sunk deeper into the earth, toes curling through the dirt as Kali trudged onwards, putting one foot before the other and arms trembling with the force of pushing back as she attempted to keep her magoi to herself. The Medium took a staggering step backwards and Kali took another forward. Veins appeared along her face as she bit her lip and let out a fierce cry, taking another step.
"I won't let... you take this world from me," Kali snarled, arms trembling fiercely and she ground her teeth together. "I won't... let you... take anything else!"
Tears pooled in her eyes, hot and furious and she faintly wondered in the back of her mind how long it had been since she shed tears. A wide grin split her lips and she forced another step forward, falling to one knee as the Medium forced her down, palms pressing forcefully against the tangle of roots and vines. "I won't—"
Her eyes bore fiercely into the sky. Beyond the Medium, beyond anything else and she let out a shout that split the earth beneath her feet.
"—LET YOU TAKE ANYTHING ELSE!"
Kali fell to both knees, arching backwards as she curved her arms above her head and with a fierce cry she tossed her arms forward and released. The roots tugged fiercely at the Medium, wrapping tight arounds its body and threw it upwards into the sky.
Kouen's eyes sharpened and his gaze snapped upwards. "Now, Koumei!"
"Yes!" Koumei's fingers rose. "Teleporting now!"
Hakuei appeared, raising her spear as she struck. The pentagram before her shone brightly and a torrent of wind flew outwards. It wrapped around the Medium, a heavy vortex swirling viciously around it as it rose higher and higher into the air. Kouha appeared to the side, swinging his scythe back in unison with the glow of his own Extreme Magic. A fierce curve of magenta swung outwards and the Medium was sent sailing backwards and over the ocean.
Kougyoku appeared, a fierce look on the once timid princess' features as she raised her sword upwards. Water rose with the force of her call and she struck, impaling it straight through its center and high above the depths of the ocean.
"I-Incredible," Alibaba murmured.
"Are they not valiant, those brothers and sisters of mine?" Kouen questioned aloud, eyes watching the skies before the turned forward.
He stood beside Alibaba, the blonde prince following his gaze to where Kali knelt on the ground. Her shoulders rose and fell heavily with the force of her breathing. Kouen watched the lines of her body tremble, gazing back into the piercing eyes of the dragon on her back and Kali's hands hit the ground as she hunched over, vines curling tight around her arms and around her body as though to draw her deeper into the earth.
Alibaba's eyes shifted back to the man beside him and he froze. It was different from the look he'd fixed Kali the moment they'd seen each other, different from the way he'd threatened her at the end of his own sword. It was an emotion he doubted he was meant to be seeing, something private and closely kept, but there upon Kouen's face, was an expression so fierce and so filled with warmth and perhaps—
Longing? Alibaba stiffened at the thought. A man like this looking at someone like Kali... Alibaba thought quickly then of a man just as powerful if not more and he froze. He looks at her the way Sinbad does...
"Hakuryuu," Alibaba said suddenly, and Kouen paused. "Isn't Hakuryuu here?"
Kouen spared Alibaba a brief glance and turned his gaze back to Kali, striding toward her as the metal piece on his hilt began to glow a soft hue and wings curled around him, stretching out to the woman before them. "Who knows... I'm not sure if he would obey my orders."
"You must rest, my king," Camio urged, voice clear and resounding in her head, sharper than ever now that she was woven with him. "Drop my equip and allow yourself to heal. The fluctuation of the magoi in the air and the Rukh, along with the depletion of your magoi is dangerous. If we stay like this, you may—"
"'s okay." Kali hacked, fingers digging deep grooves into the earth below her. "Don't care 'bout that."
A warmth fell over her entire body and Kali almost slumped in relief from the softness of it. Her head tilted and she trailed her eyes upwards to where crimson gazed down at her, unreadable and watching her so closely. Her eyes flickered and the corner of her lips twitched upwards as soft wings enshrouded her. "You still haven't shown me this equip yet, you know."
A calloused hand reached out toward her and Kali didn't move away as fingers ghosted along the curve of her cheek and Kouen gazed down at her, eyes focusing solely on her.
"Fool."
"Kali, are you alright?" Alibaba rushed toward them and Kouen flashed him a glance. "We—"
"You're in no position to be worrying about others," Kouen said curtly. Alibaba snapped to him in surprise and Kouen's body flashed as he equipped himself with his djinn once more. "Let's go."
"Right!" An arch of flames curled around him and Kouen flew headfirst into the fray. Alibaba nodded, flames curling around him and Kali offered him a reassuring grin as he surged upwards as well.
There. Kali rose shakily to her feet, feeling energy rush back into her for now thanks to Kouen's vessel. Vines wove around her legs as though to coax her to remain where she was but for a moment longer but she took even strides forward and leapt upwards. Kali disappeared and reappeared by Kouen's side.
Everyone moved as one, arms raised as magic flowed through their veins. Koumei raised his hand and a line of constellations appeared, opening up and swallowing all their attacks whole as it opened up above the Medium. A fierce, thundering explosion rocked the air and a wild screech tore at the wind as it fell to the ocean below them. The ocean rose upwards with a mighty groan, waves lapping and pooling and Kali felt water hit her cheek, splattering against her hair as she stumbled a step in the air, vines curling tight around her as though to keep her upright.
Kouen's hand snapped out and steadied her arm and she said nothing, breathing heavily as she watched the smoke and dust clear below them.
"Did we get him?" Alibaba panted.
A fierce, shrill shriek tore through the air and Kali bit her lip, eyes filling with anger as a wide, empty pool appeared before them. The Medium placed a hand along the water's surface, draining the ocean of all its Rukh and beginning to rise, larger and larger and larger.
"No way..." Alibaba snarled. "How can he be even bigger now?"
"He stole the Rukh from the sea!" Aladdin gripped his flute tighter. "He can become stronger by taking the Rukh from anything in this world."
"Do we have a chance of beating something like that?" Kouha said. "We can't launch anymore Extreme Magic attacks, and we're barely clinging to our equips..."
"We can beat it for sure," Aladdin promised, face fierce despite the fatigue lining his face and Kali paused, fingers dipping to the metal bracelets on her wrists. "Just like they did in Alma Torran... I just know it."
She couldn't hear his voice in the back of her mind, and she felt Camio stir. "My king..."
Don't hate him. Her fingers curled tight over the bracelet on her wrist. It's my fault.
"But you've already switched between too many—if you push it with Murmur then you might—"
I have to be willing to risk it all, Cam. Kali breathed, feeling her mind grow number. I can't hold anything back.
"Back then, Solomon and his 72 Household Members defeated one Medium after another... So if everyone joins forces, we should be able to take that one out for sure!"
"You cannot," Camio said fiercely. "I will not let you."
The Medium rose upwards with a furious roar, curling his fist back. Kali's eyes widened as he slammed down onto Hakuei and Kouen lurched beside her. "Hakuei!"
Golden light flashed beneath his fists and Aladdin glared fiercely upwards, struggling to hold his borg in place as Hakuei fell to the ground behind him. Kali curled her fists with a mighty heave and roots tore up fiercely from the earth, surging forward.
"If I can't hold my own against someone in the middle of the sea, then I'm not worthy of living!" Kougyoku shouted fiercely, surging forward as a torrent of water wrapped itself around her body.
Her attacked slammed hard into its back, forcing it to stumble a step as the Medium lurched around. Kali's eyes widened as tendrils shot after Kougyoku. She flew quickly, dodging its grasp until it formed a massive hand and snatched her into its grip. There was a flash of violet and Kouha whirled around. "I'll be damned if I let any more of my relatives get killed!"
A hand snatched him in the middle of the air and Kouen surged forward, eyes burning as he sliced through its grip. Kali watched in horror as Kouha's body fell to the floor, blood splattering the earth and pooling fast around him. Kali curled her fingers and vines grew quickly along the shoreline, bursting through the sand and curling tight around their bodies as a white light glowed softly around them.
Kali felt her heart stutter in her chest and she lurched, pulse thudding loud in her ears. Above her Koumei let out a furious snarl, whirling around as he raised his hand and a giant constellation appeared above the Medium.
A mountain began to appear through the opening and the Medium raised its arms upwards, battering weakly against the entire half of earth that fell upon him. A resounding crash sent waves rippling across the water.
Kali felt her blood run cold as the earth fell away and the Medium stood there before them, unscathed. Koumei's eyes widened in horrified disbelief and a flurry of hands shot outwards, tendrils weaving wildly in the air and beginning to surge upwards.
Not enough. Kali's eyes snapped to where her vines were curling tight around an unconscious Kouha and a struggling Kougyoku. Aladdin laid Hakuei gently against the sand and her gaze flickered to where Alibaba and Kouen stood, tense and faces fierce. Not enough.
Her eyes slowly trailed back to the Medium. It'll take it all away from me.
It'll take my home away from me.
Pale hands stretched outwards and clasped tight to the black mass seeping through the clouds. Kali's body froze, pulse loud and fierce in her ears and in her chest as it began to tug it downwards. It'll all disappear...
"Disappear."
Kali stilled.
"At this rate, everyone will be killed!" Aladdin shouted.
Explosions burst to light before her eyes as Kouen and Alibaba surged forward. Koumei's constellations appeared all throughout the Medium, attacks bouncing carelessly off its body.
Disappear.
I get it. Kali gently pulled the vines back from the earth, silently apologizing to Kougyoku and Kouha and hopping they'd be alright. Aladdin's eyes snapped to where they disappeared and back to Kali's figure hovering in the air, hair curling gently around her as the wind buffeted her side. I know what I need to do.
"My king?"
There was a shift in the air and Kouen froze, his eyes snapping to Kali as the vines around her began to curl tight around her arms and legs, as though to restrict her movements.
"My king, you mustn't—"
Kali closed her eyes and breathed.
"YOU WILL DIE."
"Disappear."
I guess she gets what she wants.
Kali's body flickered and she reappeared only inches from the Medium's body. Arms began to shoot toward her and she laid her hands along the pale, trembling flesh, feeling magoi surge powerfully through it. But if I have to go...
Her eyes hardened, shining fiercely and Kali let out a furious roar as she plunged her hands deep. Black Rukh burst forward, disappearing the moment it brushed along her skin and Kali's entire body flickered wildly, flashing in and out of existence. Kali hacked, blood dripping from the corners of her lips and down her eyes.
I'll take it with me.
"Kali-nee, don't do it!" Aladdin exclaimed, voice piercing the air and Kouen whirled toward her in a flurry of flames, hacking away at tendrils as his hand stretched outwards.
"Kali!" Kouen roared.
"MY KING."
It's too much. Kali stumbled, hands sinking deeper into the Medium and she felt her own magoi begin to slip through her fingertips. Her body flickered, transparent against the rest of the world and a hand suddenly clutched her body tight. The Medium flung her upwards and she clung weakly to the hand gripping her, feeling magoi disappear beneath her hands as her eyes rolled back and she watched light flash across the sky. I just...
Her eyes fluttered and bright, blazing blue seared across her vision.
Wanted to save them.
"Stop it!"
There was a curl in the air, a whisper by her ear.
The air crackled fiercely around them, coiling and teeming with energy. Blue shot past her eyes and there was a loud hum before the Medium screeched and a massive explosion rocked the earth. Lightning crackled in the air, humming and zipping with electricity and Kali's eyes rolled back in her head and Camio's equip clung fiercely to her body.
"Bararaq Saika!"
And then she was falling.
Her hair whipped across her face, the sky growing further and further away from her as the wind seemed to tremble with the force of the energy, the power teeming through the air.
But she was falling, falling, falling—Kali felt herself spiraling downwards, Camio's voice dull in her head and numb to her chest as her eyes slid shut and she exhaled softly.
"I told you to come back to me."
Rukh battered at her cheeks, feathers brushing against her eyelids and tickling her ear with the quietest of whispers. Kali felt a smile form loosely on her lips and the scent of the sea, the hum of energy, and the faint, biting scent of something sharp all enveloped her whole. Firm hands, cool and sturdy against her burning skin curved gently around her, beneath her legs and under her back to prop her up gently.
Her hair settled in tousled waves around her, the slight tickle of silky locks mingling with her soot black. Kali heaved, chest rising and falling rapidly as she struggled to catch her breath and the grip around her shifted so that his fingers could reach around and brush the hair from her face. He swiped at a trail of blood trickling down from the corner of her mouth and Kali's eyes fluttered open, meeting warm, bright, and impossibly fond gold.
Electricity crackled by her ear and her heart soared. The memory of hot blood pooling through her fingers and the sight of him falling through the sky, falling out of her grasp and her fingers barely clutching on. Kali raised a shaky hand upwards and his face dipped, golden eyes enveloping her whole and her smile widened, eyes shining as a tear trickled out the corner and curved along her cheek.
Her fingers brushed against his cheek and she held it there. "When do I ever... listen to you?"
Electric blue bangs brushed against her own and Sinbad held her tighter to him, forehead pressing against hers and his breath fanned over her cheeks as he held her gaze in his.
"Then I suppose I shall always come to you."
"Uncle Sinbad!" Aladdin ran along the shoreline, leaping up into the air and rushing to meet him.
Kouen's gaze sharpened, taking in the sight before him intently. His hands curled tight as his sides, eyes narrowing as Kali's hand wove itself through Sinbad's hair and he held her tight to him. "Did he say Sinbad?"
Alibaba turned to him in surprise and blinked at how tightly Kouen clutched the sword at his side. Crimson irises seemed to swallow the sight before him whole, watching intently as Sinbad's lips moved and Kali's head tilted, her hair pooling around his arm and tumbling past her shoulders as her grip in his hair loosened and she let her hand fall back to her chest.
A grunt left Kouen's lips and his eyes flickered to the clearing clouds above them. "In that case, those forces he led here... Are they the Seven Seas Alliance?"
Kali's eyes trailed lazily over the top of Sinbad's shoulder, catching sight a mass of familiar and unfamiliar faces. Armakan inclined his head toward the sight of her, Artemina peeked through her golden locks and smiled. "My, what a familiar sight we have here."
"You brought the whole cavalry," Kali slurred, amusement flickering across her features and Sinbad shifted her in his grip.
"It looks as though I were right to do so," his grip on her tightened. "Considering your sorry state."
"Got in a little over my head," Kali admitted, and Sinbad's lips curved at her words.
"As always."
"You wouldn't love me any other way."
Sinbad let out a heavy sigh, gazing down at her with full warmth. "I suppose that's my own burden to shoulder then, isn't it?"
"Aladdin! Alibaba! Kali!" Yamraiha's face appeared over the wings of one of the Artemyran birds, alongside the familiar glint of scales and a sturdy figure. "You're alright!"
"Miss Yam! Drakon's here, too!"
"Still, what a letdown," Armakan sighed. "My idiot brother hasn't shown up?"
"My precious daughter isn't present as well."
"It can't be helped, from what I hear, it is the will of their master, King Sinbad. Most of the Household Members in Sindria are still in their non-assimilated state." Darius said.
"You certainly are a lenient man, Sinbad!"
"Let's hope this doesn't prove to be his downfall."
"Brat from Balbadd," Alibaba stiffened, jerking around sharply.
"It's Alibaba—Alibaba Saluja!"
"What is the relationship," Kouen bit out flatly. "Between those two?"
Alibaba paused, eyes turning upwards toward where Sinbad held Kali close in his arms. "Kali and Sinbad? The two of them..." Alibaba trailed off, brows furrowing and voice quieting at the hard look on Kouen's face. "Have known each other for a long time..."
Kouen's gaze hardened and he quietly coasted back down to the shoreline where his siblings lay. Brilliant lights illuminated the sky in fierce succession of one another, brightening and shining as household members and metal vessel users alike brought forth their weapons and struck. A fierce explosion shook the earth and Sinbad moved toward Alibaba and Aladdin, helping Kali stand as she leaned against his side. "This is all thanks to the two people who grasped the situation so quickly and summoned us, scattered around the world."
"The two people?" Aladdin echoed and Kali froze.
The air drifted warmly around her, a familiar scent and the soft brush of Rukh, loving and gentle. She quickly turned, eyes growing wide and drinking in the familiar sight as his silken locks drifted behind him, eyes warm. "Thank goodness you got here in time... I've been worried for so long..."
"Yunan," Kali murmured, stepping forward and Sinbad steadied her. Her eyes shone fiercely and Yunan's soft smile turned upwards at the corners. "Yunan... I never thought—"
"This is our world to protect," Yunan drifted down to stand before her, reaching a hand out and running it softly over the top of her head and through her hair as his eyes warmed. "Just as it is yours."
"But Amar—"
"Helping the rescue of those in Magnostadt as we speak," Yunan said proudly. "You have left with me a very promising disciple, you know. Much easier to train than you ever were."
Safe. Kali registered from his words, shoulders slumping in relief. Safe. "It's good to see you, Yu."
"I wish under happier circumstances," Yunan's eyes flickered. "You've been fighting so long... You can rest now."
"Hey, you stupid woman!" Kouen's gaze snapped toward the figure that had appeared in a flurry of flames on the beach. Bright silver locks shone fiercely around sharp, ruby red irises and he stomped his way across the sand, snarling and looking irritated beyond belief. "You left me behind so far away, knowing you'd get in over your head with shit like this—I told you to call for help!"
"Kali-nee, who is that?" Aladdin's brows furrowed. "The Rukh around him is strange..."
"Ah, that's my first household member," Kali mused, turning over her shoulder to throw Koran a wave from where he fumed down below, flames licking at his feet. "Yu, you didn't need to bring him along you know."
"He was causing quite the fuss in the villages we happened to be passing," Yunan admitted, raising a shoulder in a half-shrug.
More curses and words flew from Koran's lips, Kouen watching the boy curiously as the Kou siblings blinked and Kali grimaced. Perhaps my last member as well.
"Then... now that these people are here..." Alibaba stumbled, light curling around him and Kali stiffened in surprise as he began to fall to the ground, his equip leaving him. "We can..."
"Alibaba!" Aladdin quickly shot after him, but a flash of bright flames flickered in the corner of Kali's eyes and she turned, lips twitching upwards as a familiar figure curled gently around Alibaba, catching him in his fall as wings of flames fanned out behind her at her ankles.
"I guess Amar wasn't the only one you've had your hands full with," Kali mused, allowing herself to sink toward the ground as Sinbad descended, lowering them to the shoreline where fuchsia hair and blonde resided.
"It's good to see you, Morgiana," Kali called weakly, and Morgiana turned her bright eyes upwards, an earnest smile filling her face.
"You as well, Kali!"
Explosions racked the air and Alibaba's eyes turned toward the horizon. "That's got to be Drakon... right? They're amazing..."
"I'll become like that as well," Morgiana promised, and Yunan sighed, drifting down beside them.
"I wouldn't recommend that, Morgiana. You remember what I told you, yes? Once a household member assimilates with their vessel... They can never return to human form." Yunan said.
"But I want to get stronger," Morgiana rose upwards, beginning to rush toward the edge of the shoreline as chains fanned out along her ankles, igniting into flames. "Stronger and stronger!"
"H-Hey! Is that a good idea?" Alibaba cried, and Yunan smiled. "Blasting off your household vessel like that?"
"She'll be fine, Alibaba." Yunan said.
"What kinds of ideas did you put into Morgiana's head?" Sinbad questioned suspiciously.
"All I did was teach her that there were ways to use her power without carelessly spouting flames." Yunan smiled, the three of them watching as Morgiana soared outwards.
Speaking of household members. Kali ducked as a fist swung over her head and she turned sharply on her heel, dodging to the side as another came at her and she grinned, palm snatching another incoming fist as ruby red irises glared fiercely at her. "Such a non-cute way to greet your teacher, I'm really hurt, you know?"
"So I'll finish the job and knock you out so you won't get hurt even more," Koran spat, looking absolutely furious and Kali beamed. "Why do you look so happy? You look shittier than ever before and now you're just smiling!"
Kali gripped his fist tight and pulled him closer, opening her arms wide and stumbling slightly as she brought him close to her. "You did well, Koran. Thank you."
She felt him stiffen in her arms, hands coming up and grasping at her back tightly. "Stupid woman..."
"It seems you've found yourself some wonderful people to be surrounded by," Yunan mused, and Kali grinned. "Much different from that fierce little girl I found all those years ago, power hungry and greedy."
"I had a teacher who rubbed off on me," Kali shrugged, turning her gaze toward Yunan as she ruffled a fuming Koran's head and beamed despite the wounds lining her face and the dried up blood at the corners of her eyes. "I think I did pretty well, wouldn't you say?"
"Almost too well," Sinbad mused dryly.
"Li is..." Kouha started, the Ren siblings a little ways away and regarding the scene before them quietly as Phenex curled protective wings over all of them, healing what was left. "The life she lived... Outside of Kou..."
Koumei's eyes trailed upwards to where Kouen's gaze had never once left the back of the woman no longer facing him.
"We shall neither conquer, nor allow ourselves to be conquered. That's the way of the Seven Seas Alliance." Sinbad's eyes hardened. "Reim and Kou, Magnostadt... We have no intention of recklessly interfering in a battle between nations that have declared war."
Sinbad raised his sword. "However, if you're an uninvited guest to our world..."
Electricity crackled fiercely around him, weaving through and powerful as Sinbad's gaze hardened and golden eyes shone brightly. "We will eliminate you. No matter what kind of lofty god you may be."
"What you did was reckless."
I know.
"You would have died."
I know, Cam.
"What would you have done if he hadn't—"
Cam. Kali shut her eyes, feeling the djinn's presence wash completely over her as she smiled, heart soaring and shoulder slumping a bit in relief. Thank you.
He was silent for what felt like a thousand years until his voice echoed soft in her head. "Always."
Blasts shot out from the several household members gathered around the Medium. Everyone fired off at the monster, attacks colliding fiercely against the force of its borg. Kali clicked her tongue, eyes narrowing at the sight and she rolled her shoulders, Camio's equip warm around her. Koran was at her side, gazing in disbelief. "That's what you've been fighting?"
Kali gripped his shoulder hard. "You aren't to ever become something like that, understand?"
"What? Those ridiculously powerful monsters? It'd be nice if I could finally out shine you for once—"
"Never." Kali said quietly, eyes boring quietly into his own and Koran paused. "Alright?"
"...okay." Koran said. "But they're not getting anywhere at this rate. Its borg is too strong—"
A sharp, piercing whistle hit the air and a bright line shot through the sky. Kali's eyes went wide and Sinbad stiffened in surprise as a man appeared on the other end, dark skin and silver armor shielding his body. "Muu!"
The Medium's borg shattered beneath his attack, gaping holes in its defense. Figures Kali didn't recognize hovered in the air behind him—Reim's forces.
"We can finish it off now!" Alibaba shouted, brandishing his sword and frustration etched across the Ren siblings' faces.
Koumei glanced to his siblings at his side and grimaced. "But out magoi is at its limit!"
"Then we push forth with what's left," Kali ground out, stepping forward as Koran glared fiercely at her side. Vines curled around her legs and arms, the outer layer sharpening with thorns. "We have to take it down!"
A soft light filled the air, a gentle warmth curling softly around all of them. Kali stiffened, whipping her head around in surprise as a figure glowed in the distance. Golden locks tumbled past slender shoulders, and the Rukh fluttered lovingly around her form as Scheherazade gazed upon them all with a piercing gaze. "My role ends here... I shall release all of the magoi accumulated inside my body at once."
Kali's eyes widened in disbelief, snapping to Muu, whose clawed fingers curled tight into a fist at his side as he bit his lip. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest, turning back to Scheherazade as Camio grew silent in her mind. "This is the final Extreme Magic granted to me—the clone of Scheherazade."
She raised her staff and the golden light gleamed brightly around them. It enveloped them all whole and Kali stiffened as a flood of energy surged through her, bits of golden dust—like petals, floated along the air and slipped into them. Grass burst beneath her feet and Camio's equip glowed in response as Kali clenched a fist at her side. But it shouldn't have to be like this.
"Then let us not let her sacrifice be in vain."
Kali's eyes hardened and roots tore upwards from the earth, opening massive jaws and letting out a fierce roar as Kali nodded, eyes shining with unshed tears.
"Let's finish this."
A soft presence was at her side and she glanced down to where Aladdin gripped her hand tightly, gazing up at the same sky. "Together."
"I failed you."
"I'm sorry."
"Goodbye."
"Thank you."
"I've always—"
Kali grasped his hand tightly.
"Together."
Light streaked the sky, vibrant, glistening colors as each metal vessel user took to the skies. Kali surged forward, glistening a bright white with Kouen at her side and Alibaba on the other. The first prince spared her a glance and she threw him a wry grin as they all steadied themselves up far above the Medium. Her eyes met a golden gaze standing at the center of them all and Kali raised her palm upwards, a pentagram appearing along her palms as the entire world seemed to become bathed in a golden light.
"Extreme Magic."
"Extreme Magic!"
"Extreme Magic."
"Extreme Magic," Kali clenched her fists and immediately the energy of all their combined powers surged forward, building up in the center.
Sinbad raised his sword as a brilliant light surrounded his entire frame. A smirk touched his lips and his eyes hardened in fierce determination as he raised his blade. "Extreme Magic—"
A massive blade took shape beneath the pentagram gleaming brightly beneath them. It crackled with energy, teeming with power and life and them—all their energy stored together into this final blow.
The entire world seemed to hold its breath and Sinbad's sword came down with a resounding echo.
"Bararaq Inqerade Saika!"
The massive sword pierced through the Medium, a furious, anguished filled screech filling the air and explosions appeared along its middle until a vicious white light ensnared them all. Kali staggered back from the force of the blast, the loud, resounding clap of the fierce explosion of their final attack shaking the earth with a force that threatened to bring all to their knees.
Is it over? Thick plumes of smoke rose up from the point of the explosion. Kali wearily drifted down to the earth. Around her equips flashed, disappearing from their users and she clutched tightly to her chest, gripping the silks above her heart as she held her equip steady, despite the reluctance and fear lingering in Camio's mind. Yunan stood beside her, bringing a hand to tip his hat back as he waited, eyes narrowed.
Wings fluttered past Kali's ear and she stumbled, eyes watching in horror as torrents of black Rukh surged forward, gathering together in one massive spot amidst the thick clouds of smoke and a pale hand suddenly surged forward. A piercing shriek shook the skies, shattering any peace of mind and Kali gripped her chest harder, nails biting into her skin. No.
"Damn it!" Muu's fist slammed hard into the earth. "Even the last of Lady Scheherazade's magoi wasn't enough?"
"Last?" Alibaba echoed and Muu grit his teeth.
"The only reason we were able to launch our Extreme Magic again was because of her final Extreme Magic spell."
A pained, agonized cry split the air and Kali stiffened, eyes snapping back to the hulking form. Alibaba's brows furrowed, "What's going on?"
"Something seems odd about it," Morgiana murmured.
"The Medium is hesitating," Yunan said finally, his brows furrowing as his eyes clouded with worry. "To be more precise... the Rukh of the person who's become the Medium's core is..."
Aladdin stiffened, eyes growing wide and Yunan glanced back to him. "Any idea who it could be, Aladdin?"
"It must be... I'm sure it's Mister Mogamett." Aladdin said softly and Yamraiha turned to him sharply.
"But why all of a sudden?" Alibaba questioned.
"Look," Yunan glanced toward the center of the Medium's chest and Kali's eyes narrowed, a gentle glow of white light at its very core. "It's thanks to that single speck of white light. It's the Rukh of someone who hasn't fallen into depravity—someone of pure white. It's trying to hold on to the power of the Medium even though it was reduced by our attack. Though I don't know who it could be..."
At her side Aladdin swallowed, bangs shielding his eyes and Kali glanced down to him, watching the Rukh flutter so softly around his body. "I know who it is."
"I can make it disappear," Kali began quietly, and heads snapped to her. Yunan's brows furrowed and Sinbad's lips turned down sharply in a frown. Kouen's face hardened and Kali took a firm step forward. "If I can touch the Medium I can make more of the black Rukh disappear—I can give whoever's in there a fighting chance."
"Where would you send it all?" Alibaba questioned. "It would just find its way back—"
"Somewhere far, far away," Kali said fiercely. I'll send it to the worlds that are already lost. Send it to worlds far away. "It'll buy us time until we can do something—"
"If you do something like that again," Yunan's hands reached outwards, watching quietly as his fingers seemed to slip through Kali's form and her entire body shuddered. "You really will disappear, you know."
"I don't care," Kali seethed. "If it means we win then—"
"Then nothing," a firm hand clasped over her shoulder and Kali lurched, feeling the magoi in her body distort and shudder under the forced flow running through her. Instantly her body began to solidify, no longer transparent and Sinbad gazed quietly down at her. "This is not worth losing you over."
"If the world is at stake—"
"Kali." Her name left his lips like a lifeline, a heated, quiet plea all at once and Kali froze, still under his tightening grip. "Please."
Koumei's gaze flickered to Kouen at his side, crimson eyes focused with a steely intensity on the woman only steps away from him. Kouen's hand gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, heat searing into his palm with a quiet hiss.
"I'm going." Kali's head snapped to the side and Aladdin took a step forward. "Inside it... To see Mister Mogamett's Rukh and bring him back."
"Aladdin—" Kali started and Aladdin shook his head stubbornly.
"Mister Mogamett's hesitation is the hesitation of this world itself. Magicians and ordinary people, war and peace, and white Rukh and black. Everything is in conflict in this vortex of fate, and our future, as we stand here on this battlefield—the future of the world itself is at stake!"
Aladdin took fierce steps forward, eyes shining brightly. "That's why—"
"Aladdin," Yamraiha clutched Aladdin's hand in her grip, her gaze desperate and pained. "Take me with you. The Chancellor is my adoptive father. There's something that I want to tell him, no matter what."
"Okay," Aladdin gripped Yamraiha's hand firmly and he looked toward the sky.
"Be safe," Kali whispered, and bright blue eyes glanced to her, filled with hope and determination.
"Solomon's Wisdom!"
Rukh burst wildly from Aladdin's form. It shrouded the two of them in a gentle, burning and brilliant glow. Within seconds it lowered their bodies to the ground, curling lovingly and softly around them and Kali let out a heavy sigh at the sight of their unconscious bodies.
"You wanted to kill him," Camio said quietly. "Despite knowing how much he meant to Yamraiha?"
I did do it. Kali thought quietly, remembering the blood spill over her axe and the desolate silence of Murmur in the back of her mind. In another world, I did take his life. I will not lie when I say I was prepared to do it again.
Camio was silent and Kali's eyes lowered to the floor where Aladdin's face was one of quiet peace. That's what makes the two of us different, I guess. Aladdin is always trying so fiercely to save everything and I merely look out for what I feel matters the most to me. He sees the good that still exists.
He's the reason this world will survive.
"...you have given more than anyone could ever ask of you, my king."
A familiar hand patted her shoulder and her eyes flickered to where Yunan offered her a soft gaze, those familiar eyes that always looked just a little lonely, no matter how much she'd always hoped to do something for him the way he had for her. "You've done well, Kali."
"Not without you," Kali shut her eyes. "If you hadn't been working so hard to get them all here..."
Kali grimaced, a wry grin on her lips as she gazed at her hands, now solid and steady. "I would have disappeared."
Her gaze rose upwards, meeting smoldering gold and Kali paused, the look on his face earnest and warm for the briefest of seconds. "I would have never let that happen."
"The third magi," Koumei said quietly. "I was not aware Kali possessed a household member either."
"There's a lot we don't know about Li," Kouha sighed, settling back on his palms and glancing toward where Aladdin lay. "Before, after, now—we only knew her for so little a time."
"B-But she and King Sinbad are great companions," Kougyoku started, wringing her hands nervously. "They've been, it seems... far before Kali ever came to Kou, if she ever meant any harm she would have done so!"
"Be as it may," Hakuei began calmly. "This woman I have heard so much about... Can she truly be trusted?"
Koumei turned to Kouen, flames licking at his cheeks, fanning around his hair and his eyes watched as Kali turned to Yunan, speaking softly before she knelt down beside Aladdin, watching him. The look in her eyes was tender, it shone with the same emotion he'd seen so long ago in the darkness of his study as she traced a finger along the map sprawled across his desk. He'd seen it when her gaze had met his within the confines of his bed, cheeks flushed and eyes glistening as she spoke of a world he would never see, saw it when she'd sit beside the courtyard, vines reaching for her fingers but hands never grasping anything.
Loneliness.
He'd thought, watching his fingers press against her skin and remaining there when she didn't pull away, that perhaps it was something he could drive away so long as she remained by his side. He'd pondered, contemplated in the quiet of his study as she pressed against him and soot mingled with flame and her lips moved, speaking of foolish ideals and gentle hopes, that he could see the world she saw through her own eyes.
Kouen was not naïve—he knew, in the quiet looks she casted toward the sky beneath the archways of the palace, that there was a history and a world through her eyes he had never known. People, places, and things that fluttered from his grasp and brushed against him like feathers.
"She is not our enemy," Kouen said finally, and his siblings turned their heads to him as his gaze traveled to the man only an arm's length away from Kali.
It appears my greatest enemy after all, Kouen thought quietly, was her history.
The air trembled, and everyone's eyes turned toward the sky. The Medium let out a mighty, pained groan as fissures of golden light began to surface all across its body. Kali stiffened, watching as the Rukh became so full, so bountiful it shone brightly before all of them. Wings battered furiously at the air and black Rukh surged forward from the Medium as its body disappeared, scattering into storms of black wings. Kali's eyes went wide, feeling the air thrum with the new energy and she felt her body sing in response as the Rukh filled the air.
Soft, black pieces drifted downwards from the sky. They fluttered past Kali's eyes, lingering loneliness and heartache as they disappeared into the wind. The clouds began to part, sunlight breaking through from the sky and warming her cheek. Her hair tugged with the breeze that curled around them and a brilliant white light gleamed from where Aladdin lay.
He did it. Kali gently brushed aside soft blue bangs. He did what we couldn't.
"The black Rukh's vanished," Alibaba began quietly, as though he couldn't quite believe it himself when his eyes suddenly went round. "This time... The Medium has been wiped out for good!"
A fierce, roaring cry of victory suddenly filled the air. Soldiers threw their arms up into the sky, cheers and shouts filled the area around them as light streamed through the break in the clouds. Kali slumped down onto her hands, gazing upwards at the sky as the sun warmed her face in disbelief. Her shoulders began to shake as a laugh left her lips and she pressed a hand to her eyes, tears streaking down her cheeks.
Our world, our precious, beautiful world is alive.
"Disappear."
Kali froze. She quietly pulled her hand aside and turned her gaze sideways, watching the thickening clouds begin to part.
For now.
A quiet, broken sob made its way to her ears and Kali turned. Her heart clenched at the sight of Yamraiha, clutching to her chest a wooden staff and sobbing quietly as tears streaked down her cheeks. Kali's hand twitched at her side, wishing to reach for her when Aladdin stirred at her side. Kali instantly helped the boy sit up, his gaze fluttering to her in appreciation before it filled with sorrow at the sight of Yamraiha clutching the staff so tightly to her chest.
"You did it," Kali offered quietly, voice thick with warmth and eyes gentle.
"Not without everyone else," Aladdin said softly, turning to her with pained eyes. "Not without sacrifice."
A scarred hand stretched out to Aladdin and Kali quietly shuffled back as Morgiana and Alibaba beamed down at him. Aladdin smiled up at his friends, clasping his hand tightly and rising to stand as Morgiana gazed at him, eyes filled with warmth and pride. Kali quietly stood, gripping her arm and stepping back a few steps as she watched the Rukh flutter so lovingly around the three of them.
This isn't just our world after all. Her eyes turned skywards and she watched the sunlight begin to grow. This isn't our story to weave or tell.
"But it seems we have more pressing matters to deal with, my king."
Kali paused, turning around and stiffening, a thin line pressing her lips as her gaze flickered between the two powerhouses standing off before them. Alibaba, Morgiana and Aladdin looked uncertain as hushed whispers began to flutter around uncertainly. The Seven Seas Alliance that had gathered formed a tight circle around the metal vessel users of the Kou Empire. Sinbad stood at the center, sword in his hand and arms crossed over his chest as he regarded Kouen with a simple smile. Kouen's face was an expressionless mask, not a single emotion or thought yielding in his expression.
This looks like something out of a nightmare. Kali grimaced, rubbing the back of her head with a sigh as her eyes drifted from crimson to electric blue. I never thought I'd see a day like this in this world.
"Now that the common enemy's out of the picture..." Alibaba murmured.
The air was tense, the Kou siblings completely surrounded by the entirety of Sinbad's forces. Kali blew a small sigh through her lips, eyes flickering to the horizon wistfully. I could run now, I suppose.
To her surprise Camio let out a laugh that echoed loud and bright in her mind. She arched a brow in question. "Some things never change, my king."
"Hey, stop it!" Aladdin pushed his way past, coming to stand between Sinbad and Kouen. "You did promise to pull back your soldiers, didn't you Uncle Kouen?"
Kouen's eyes narrowed, his deep voice ringing out loud and clear across the crowd. "No. This was our original objective—Magnostadt. Our opponents might have gotten switched out, but the objective remains the same."
"No way! That's not what I agreed to," Aladdin protested.
He hasn't dropped his equip once. Kali regarded Kouen quietly and her eyes swiveled over to Sinbad. But we all know who has the advantage right now.
"I know that Kou till has a magi and one more metal vessel user," Armakan commented.
"Are you hiding some kind of trump card from us, perhaps?"
"We could say the same of you." Koumei quipped. "Isn't that right, King Sinbad?"
A distinct thwack echoed in the air and Kali blinked, fond amusement fluttering through her chest as Yunan pulled his staff back from where he'd smacked Sinbad on the back of the head. "Come on now, after all the precautions we took to make sure you wouldn't get into a scuffle with Kou. Right, Morgiana?"
"Hey, Kali," Kali glanced to her side where Koran had appeared, looking no worse for wear and she assessed him quickly, making sure there were no injuries. "This doesn't look that good, shouldn't we scram? You hate politics."
"I do," Kali admitted with a wistful sigh. "And I'd love nothing more. But this is a storm that's been brewing for far too long and I fear I may have found myself in the center of it."
"Kou..." Koran balked, looking up at her sharply. "Don't tell me that freakishly strong looking guy over there is—"
"The Seven Seas Alliance has officially become the ally of the Reim Empire," Sinbad declared, crossing his arms over his chest and Kali turned in surprise, watching Sinbad closely.
"He speaks the truth," Muu ground out, fists clenching at his sides as his eyes moved to the floor. "Lady Scheherazade made the decision just before she left for the final battle."
"There's no force other than the Seven Seas Alliance that can hold its own against Reim and Kou. And yet, we joined forces with Reim." Sinbad inclined his head, regarding Kouen with a faint smile. "Do you understand what that means?"
Kali stilled, an incredulous look flickering over her face as Koran tugged at her elbow, whispering fiercely that perhaps now was the time for her annoying power to come in handy. "You—have you even looked at yourself? You're wearing nothing but sashes at this point—you're indecent!"
Kali spared a glance to the silk sashes that bound across her chest. Her tunic was in tatters and she idly gripped the remaining fabric and tossed it aside, thin fabrics still snug around her hips if only barely and the silver sash Sinbad had given her tight around her hips, though a little torn at the ends. Koran squawked behind her and she refocused her attention on Sinbad.
"Moreover, after half destroying the country ruled by Matal Mogamett, my subordinate Yamraiha's adoptive father, I can't very well abandon it." Sinbad's lips curled upwards and golden eyes shone brightly. "I will spare no effort toward the rebuilding of Magnostadt."
"That bastard..." Kouha glowered. "He's planning to plunder Magnostadt."
"Don't tell me that guy even calculated all of this!" Koumei said.
How scary the way things worked in his favor. Kali sighed, patting Koran's head and promptly disappeared. She reappeared in the center of the chaos brewing before her, hearing the Ren siblings stir and feeling heated eyes on the back of her head, but she kept her quiet gray gaze focused on the man now regarding her coolly.
"I see you have yet to put a ring on this woman," Ramototo began loftily, and Sinbad's eyes flickered as Kali merely stood quietly before him.
"She was never one to place anything upon," Sinbad responded. His head tilted to the side, golden eyes meeting gray. "Is there something you'd like to say, Kali?"
"Not a matter of saying anything," Kali held her hands up helplessly in a halfhearted shrug. "I just think it's a little ridiculous to be discussing politics right now."
"Kali-nee's right!" Aladdin began hurriedly. "There's a lot more we need to discuss and—"
"The world continues to move regardless," Sinbad said simply. "It's merely a matter of where you would like to stand."
A wicked grin split Kali's lips and while those beside Sinbad stiffened slightly, gazes flickering, golden never wavered. She regarded him quietly for what felt like an eternity and then her shoulders slumped, brows furrowing slightly above her head as she fixed him with a small smile, gaze searching.
Kali said his name so soft it was barely a whisper, "Sin."
"Now then," the deep, resounding voice that prompted power and demanded attention sounded off behind her and Kali stiffened. "I guess I will be—"
Aladdin disappeared from her side and Kali quickly whirled around, only to have heated fingers snatch the back of the sashes wrapping around her chest. Kali let out a squeak of surprise as Kouen gave it a fierce tug and Kali stumbled backwards, hands shooting up to hold the fabric steady and a firm arm curled over her shoulders and pulled her in tight to his side. Heat fanned across her body from the press of his skin to hers, and Kali blinked, face growing pale as Kouen merely met Sinbad's gaze evenly.
"—taking this magi and woman with me then."
"WHAT?"
Sinbad blinked, clear, simple surprise etching itself across his features as he nearly stumbled had Armakan not reached a quick hand to steady his arm. Sinbad blinked, once, twice, thrice, and turned a hurriedly demanding stare Kali's way. "Kali?"
"We promised, right?" Kouen turned to Aladdin under his arm, face darkening as Aladdin trembled in his grip.
"R-Right..."
"The sashes!" Kali snapped, clutching at the fabric tearing around her chest. "Watch the sashes!"
Kouen regarded her with a dull look. "This is no time for your needless timidity, I have seen you in far less."
Kali's jaw dropped and thunder suddenly rumbled overhead. Yunan regarded Sinbad with mild amusement as the man narrowed his eyes, smile plastered forcefully over his lips. "Change of plans, Yunan. I doubt I can hold true after all."
"K-Kouen?" Kali squeaked, carefully trying to pry herself from his side but Kouen's arm remained heavy over her shoulders. "I don't think this is the place—"
"Prince Kouen," Sinbad began loudly, and Kouen turned to fix Sinbad with a cool stare. "I don't know what sort of deals were made before the battlefield, but the woman you have there at your side isn't someone to be...negotiated."
"Clearly," Kouen said flatly. "Does she belong to Sindria then?"
Sinbad's eyes narrowed slightly, smile widening over his lips and Kouen blinked slowly. "If it would seem she is not, then I suppose there should be no qualms then, correct?"
"M-My brother and king," Koumei whispered furiously by Kouen's side. "Are you sure?"
"Listen to Koumei!" Kali hissed, trying to pry Kouen's arm off her shoulder but struggling uselessly. "He's the only sane one right now!"
"If he was the kind of man who was only after territories and power," Kouen said calmly. "Then we could step on his throat here."
His eyes flickered briefly to the woman at his side and back to Sinbad, who managed to remain calm and composed despite it all. "But I'm sure that's not the case."
Kouha sidled over, smiling brightly and cheerfully toward a fearful looking Aladdin and a furious Kali. Alibaba was quick to launch himself over, tugging Aladdin from Kouha's grip as the two began to quarrel over their friend.
"Li belongs back with us in Kou! We'll take much better care of Aladdin than you ever could!"
"He's not someone to take care of, he's a person!" Alibaba snapped. "And it's Kali, not Li!"
"What do you know, ex-prince?"
"She isn't something to haggle over—"
"He's right!" Koran snapped, tanned arms pushing through several bodies and bursting forth into the center of the crowd, looking flustered and annoyed. "Unhand my king!"
"Your king?" Kouha sneered, crossing his arms over his chest. "What do you even know about Li, kid?"
"Kid?" Koran exclaimed. "I'm practically the same age as you—and I know plenty! Do you know what her favorite fruit is? I don't think so. And I know enough about you savages to know you hunted her down like some kind of animal!"
"Who even are you?" Kouha sniffed and Koran's jaw dropped, reaching for his blade.
Kali turned to Kouen questioningly, her brows furrowed at the stony expression on his face. Lips parted to inquire about the thoughts that seemed to be running ceaselessly through his mind when a voice spoke out.
"Kali."
Her name left his lips like a gentle call, a quiet summoning that neither demanded nor requested, but filled her mind and senses nonetheless. Kouen stiffened ever so slightly, eyes darting to Kali and his fist clenched tight at his side as he watched her turn without hesitation toward the sound of her name.
Sinbad was regarding her with a look that only seemed to shine with exasperation and fondness. Golden lights flickered across the clearing as everyone parted with their equips, and Kouen at her side glowed as well as she took a step from his side. He merely stood, looming and tense beside her.
"I had hoped," Sinbad began slowly. "When you spoke of meeting with the royal family, it had not been anything to such a degree."
Kali's eyes twinkled and Kouen's cool expression did not waver when she disappeared, her warmth parting from his side and she reappeared only a few feet from Sinbad. "Don't tell me your jealous now?"
"I suppose I have reason to be," Sinbad mused, eyes flickering to Kouen and regarding his quiet expression curiously before the corners of Sinbad's lips turned upwards. Kouen's eyes narrowed. "You have someone else vying after your affections after all."
You've been hiding things from me.
Kali tipped her head back, hair curling around her form in tousled waves and she smirked. "You should know I have bigger things to be worrying about." You've been keeping things from me too.
"My brother and king," Koumei began quietly, stepping close to Kouen's side as they watched Sinbad and Kali banter despite the eyes watching them and the tense, curling air of the battle they had won beginning to fade. "Was it wise to show your interest in Kali? I know how you feel but with a man like that..."
"If he were the kind of man who would use her to get back at me," Kouen began with a deep rumble in his chest. "I would have struck him where he stands."
Koumei grew silent and Kouen's eyes narrowed. "It's clear that she is not the kind of piece he can wield to his liking, no matter what their relationship or past history may be. She was prepared to stop him just now should he have decided to turn his sword our way."
Annoyance flickered through Kouen's gaze. "If it were as easy as that though, then things would be much simpler."
Koumei brought his fan upwards, covering his lips and his eyes strayed to his brother. "Perhaps we should have held fast to her when we had the chance."
At that Kouen smirked, he turned his gaze Koumei's way and his brother paused, regarding the bright, fierce look in Kouen's eyes. "If she were that kind of a woman, I would not be after her so."
Koumei stiffened in surprise and Kouen regarded the woman that had appeared before them with ease. Sinbad stood a little ways away, watching the three of them with golden eyes that betrayed nothing but the smile on his face.
"Thank you," Kali said finally. Gray eyes met crimson. "...for everything."
Kouen inclined his head. "It was within our own interests."
A small smile curled on her lips and Kouen gazed down at her. "It would seem we have much to discuss."
"So it would seem indeed," Kali's lids lowered and her eyes were warm. "If only we had all the time in the world."
The Rukh fluttered past Kali's ear and she paused as Kouen moved to stand beside her. His hand rose upwards and curved around her cheek and she froze, heart stuttering at the contact and the memory only hours ago. She could feel a piercing gaze on them only lengths away and Kouen lowered his lips to her ear.
"I do not care for you history," Kouen spoke quietly to her ear, voice low and like a lulling rumble. "Nor for your past and who lies within it, I intend to be in your future."
A smirk touched his lips and he stepped past her to rejoin his siblings and the world hummed around them.
"I am the man, after all, who will rewrite history."
Oof, sorry to cut it off like that but I felt like this chapter was a monster because there were no line breaks. Promise lots more reunion and post-battle stuff next chapter, we still have to cover Titus being reborn and everyone leaving the battlefield. ;) The Magnostadt arc has semi-officially come to a close! I hope the grand meeting you were all waiting for was written well enough, I played around with it a few times and settled for this.
I saw some of you are wondering too why Murmur and Seere didn't make an appearance, there's some reasoning behind that which will come soon, so just wait and see ;)
I've been thinking about it a lot recently and usually these author notes are little thank yous and quip and mindless chatter, but I honestly want to really thank all of you guys so much for reading this story and for loving it as much as I do. I remember starting this a couple years ago for the sheer fun of it and now it's spiraled into something so large and wonderful and I can't imagine where it would be without all your endless support. Thank you all so much, to those who read, to those who follow, to those who favorite, to those who review—and those who do it all. The fact that you're willing to take the time out just to let me know you were screaming about what happened or writing paragraph after paragraph is absolutely amazing. I read through every single review and read it through a second time because it makes me smile so hard my mom thinks I'm going crazy.
So just a little thanks guys, honestly, for sticking through with this so far and through all Enigma's sporadic updates and ups and downs and random grammar/spelling errors. Love you all, mwah.
ON A SIDE NOTE, I'VE BEEN IN LOVE WITH BOKU NO HERO ACADEMIA SINCE THE DAWN OF ITS EXISTENCE AND I'VE BEEN TRYING SO HARD NOT TOO BUT I MADE A STORY FOR IT ANYWAY. Check it out if you guys are interested! Here's a little blurb:
Of Heroes, Blood, and Boba
When Kouki Fuyu decided to train under the only nurse at a school working to train the next generation of heroes, she really should've expected the work she had cut out for her. "You guys literally get hurt every day." "It comes with the job." "It's ridiculous." "Can you just shut up and heal me?" Todoroki/Oc/Bakugo
"I-I'm sorry?"
Todoroki blinked slowly. Quietly he brought her hands upwards and cupped them in the air. He reached around and placed the small pot of orchids into her hands, curling her fingers around the smooth ceramic to make sure it wouldn't slip. Fuyu stared at the beautiful flowers, breath catching in her throat. "I can't—"
His fingers lingered over hers for a moment, one warm and the other cool. But both his eyes regarded her with same amount of warmth as the corner of his lips curled upwards, a bare wisp of a smile. "You said you didn't have anything to decorate your room with, right?"
The smooth, beautifully crafted ceramic pot was tied off with a bright red ribbon, the same color as her eyes. Todoroki's fingers curled over the ribbon and his gaze flickered.
"This way you can think of me as well."
Several feet away Ashido turned her eyes from the scene before her, glancing to Kaminari who grimaced. "He says it so honestly and without an ulterior motives—Todoroki doesn't realize how smooth he is!"
"I know, it pisses me off."
"Shut the fuck up!" Bakugo seethed, his fist closed tight over the collar of her shirt and he jerked her backwards.
Fuyu's eyes snapped up to him, wide and glistening with unshed tears and Bakugo loomed over her. Fury lined every inch of his face and his crimson eyes burned hotly into hers as his lips pulled back into a snarl. "Can't save this, can't save that—who gives a shit. Some things are out of your reach?"
His grip on her shirt tightened and Fuyu stilled, his face fierce and earnest and her chest tightened.
"Well I have you, idiot. You're in my grip, aren't you? So I'm going to save you."
Blood flowed freely from her palms, down the cuts along her arms. Tears pulled in her eyes as her shoulders shook and rain battered at her form. Fuyu bowed her head and a choked sob slipped past her lips as she clutched at the concrete below her, fingers digging in and she ground her teeth.
I'm sorry.
A wail tore past her lips.
"I'm sorry!"
The first thing he felt when he woke up was annoyed.
Really fucking annoyed.
His lips curved down into a fierce frown. His eyes squinted against the harsh light of the infirmary room. Fuck this, I don't need to be here. He gripped the sheets beneath his fingers and began to sit up. He felt better than ever, there was no need for him to stay here any longer. Especially not when that damn nerd was probably here too and he didn't want...
He stopped, half risen and propping his weight on his elbow as he regarded the girl before him. Fuyu's head was resting against the wall beside his bed. Her eyes were shut, the soft rise and fall of her chest the only sign of movement from her. Her palms were splayed open, dried bits of blood on her palms and his hand shot to his arm, feeling not a single inch of the pain he should've from the way he'd been using his Quirk.
The infirmary was silent, his crimson eyes watching her intently when he slowly lowered himself back to the bed. His gaze never left her sleeping form and he scoffed.
What an idiot.
"What do you want?"
She watched what she knew of her entire world fall apart around her. People were shouting outside, fierce and frightening. She felt her heart hammering loud in her ears, felt her blood rushing powerful and fast through her veins. Fuyu bit her lip and her eyes shone, fierce and hopeful and wanting.
She clutched his hand desperately, small fingers gripping a hand so much bigger than her own.
"I want to be a hero."
It'll start off pretty nice since it is a Romance/Comedy, but I want to explore a little darker themes with the character and her personality will be a little different from what I'm used to writing, so if you're interested, check it out!
Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed!
Marshmellow-
-OUT!
